CEDAR KEY CITY
COMMISSION MEETS
15 DECEMBER 2020
MEETING SPECIFICS
The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at 6 pm, at the Cedar Key Community Center. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Sue Colson, Commissioners Susan Rosenthal, Jim Wortham, and Nancy Sera.
The Cedar Key City Commission met on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at 6 pm, at the Cedar Key Community Center. Present were Mayor Heath Davis, Vice-Mayor Sue Colson, Commissioners Susan Rosenthal, Jim Wortham, and Nancy Sera.
Staff in attendance included: City of Cedar Key Attorney Norm Fugate, Police Chief Virgil Sandlin, Fire Chief and Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson, Public Works Director Michelle Petersen, City Clerk Crystal Sharp, Receptionist Telicia Winfield, and Building Clerk Jennifer Sylvester. Four of the five commissioners wore masks and were physically distanced; staff was physically distanced and wore no masks.
Among those in the audience were: Tom Deverin, John Dozier, Bev Ringenberg, Tom Pierson, Esta Johnson, Lois Benninghoff, Maureen Magee, Michael Snapper, and Mandy and Frank Offerle.
DOZIER
Returning to the Cedar Key City Commission, John Dozier again requested a minor replat of five lots located at the corner of Ingleside and Indiana Streets. The initial request was made in April 2019. At the last quasi-judicial hearing on June 18, 2019, the decision was made to deny the request. The case has since gone to the circuit court where the judge ruled that the city’s decision should be quashed, and the city should reconsider the replat request. The Cedar Key News has not been able to obtain a copy of the court decision.
Returning to the Cedar Key City Commission, John Dozier again requested a minor replat of five lots located at the corner of Ingleside and Indiana Streets. The initial request was made in April 2019. At the last quasi-judicial hearing on June 18, 2019, the decision was made to deny the request. The case has since gone to the circuit court where the judge ruled that the city’s decision should be quashed, and the city should reconsider the replat request. The Cedar Key News has not been able to obtain a copy of the court decision.
At the time of this evening’s meeting, Dozier had not submitted the “Development Review Application” form newly required by the city.
After nearly an hour of discourse and much repetition: Mayor Heath Davis explained in detail the code, a replat, and a minor replat; Davis further explained the rationale for not creating lots less than 7,500 square feet. The mayor stated that the first submittal was improperly submitted as a minor replat and probably should have been submitted as a development review.
Attorney Fugate stated that “when you are considering an application like this, in order to approve that application, you have to find that all the criteria are met. If you are denying the application, it is sufficient to have one criteria that is not met.”
Mayor Davis offered that Dozier is not going to find his answer in a minor replat or a development review.
Mayor Davis offered that Dozier is not going to find his answer in a minor replat or a development review.
Mr. Dozier left with the understanding that he could not subdivide his parcel into three lots. Dozier said he planned to work with his attorney and Cedar Key City Attorney Norm Fugate to find some way, within the city code, to lawfully divide the parcel into three lots.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
CEMETERY CLEAN-UP
Police Chief Virgil Sandlin thanked those who participated in the Cedar Key Cemetery Clean-Up on Saturday, December 12. He remarked on how clean of debris the area is now.
CEMETERY CLEAN-UP
Police Chief Virgil Sandlin thanked those who participated in the Cedar Key Cemetery Clean-Up on Saturday, December 12. He remarked on how clean of debris the area is now.
SANTA THANKED
Tongue in cheek, Vice-Mayor Sue Colson asked that Police Chief Virgil Sandlin contact Santa Claus in the North Pole and thank him for his presence at City Park on Monday, December 14, where he listened to each participating youngster’s Christmas wishes.
Tongue in cheek, Vice-Mayor Sue Colson asked that Police Chief Virgil Sandlin contact Santa Claus in the North Pole and thank him for his presence at City Park on Monday, December 14, where he listened to each participating youngster’s Christmas wishes.
COVID-19 VACCINATION
Resident Tom Deverin suggested that city officials request that the University of Florida team that came in March 2019 to test for Covid-19, return to vaccinate the area’s population.
Resident Tom Deverin suggested that city officials request that the University of Florida team that came in March 2019 to test for Covid-19, return to vaccinate the area’s population.
COVID-19 UPDATE:
CURRENT STATUS
Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson reported information from the Levy County Emergency Management COVID-19 Dashboard. Click here for current content: https://levyem.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bf5387b84d89456e9904001d00899504
CURRENT STATUS
Emergency Operations Director Robert Robinson reported information from the Levy County Emergency Management COVID-19 Dashboard. Click here for current content: https://levyem.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bf5387b84d89456e9904001d00899504
Robinson remarked that it must be “the salt air” kills this stuff and keeps us in good shape and the fact that we are doing pretty much what we need to do.
SERA DOCUMENT
Mayor Davis thanked Commissioner Nancy Sera for her effort in producing a report titled, “Mask Mandate Resolution Analysis.”
Mayor Davis thanked Commissioner Nancy Sera for her effort in producing a report titled, “Mask Mandate Resolution Analysis.”
Audience member Mike Snapper noted that this document was the “most troublesome” he had seen. He commented that he was “dismayed at the lack of concern” about the pandemic’s effects on the population.
Another audience member, Mandy Offerle, remarked that the report could have been more comprehensive and include more of the island’s businesses.
Omitted were shopkeepers, real estate agents, numerous hotels/motels, art shops, “coffee houses,” hair salon, and more. Also, significantly, proposing a recommendation that effects the whole of Cedar Key, while ignoring the island’s 600 plus residents.
Commissioner Sera responded by stating that the intent of the analysis was to determine how much pushback we would get by the restaurants and hotels if we mandated masks.
Mayor Davis explained that the report shows that the safety issue needs to be attacked in a different way than by a mask mandate. Those folks have a right to not wear masks (the State of Florida supports the right to not require masks).
MAYOR’S RESOLUTION
Articulating his desire to “move the city forward” at a time when the pandemic’s effects are reaching record highs, Mayor Davis introduced the following six-point suggestion series for commissioners’ comments.
Articulating his desire to “move the city forward” at a time when the pandemic’s effects are reaching record highs, Mayor Davis introduced the following six-point suggestion series for commissioners’ comments.
• We should ask UF to do another testing of the full community.
• We should recommend that no groups sing together inside closed area, then the City should waive the special use permit for any group wanting to sing in open areas, our parks.
• We should work with the school help enforce those that have been asked to quarantine.
• We should set up/facilitate a way for City Businesses to encourage their employees to get tested once a week to maintain a safe environment for visitors to the Island.
• We should discourage “rapid test" and recommend the PCR test done at the Health Dept.
• City staff should always wear protective face coverings whenever they are interacting with the public.
Commissioners unanimously approved the suggestions; Attorney Fugate was directed to formulate them into a resolution.
GOLDEN CLAM AWARD
Mayor Davis presented a Golden Clam Award for outstanding service to Cedar Key the area and its residents, in absentia. The service to the community was spearheading the effort to get reliable broadband, high speed internet service to the island. The absent recipient said that the effort was certainly not a one-man accomplishment; the Cedar Key Sewer and Water commissioners, its General Manager John McPherson, and many others helped to actualize the service.
Mayor Davis presented a Golden Clam Award for outstanding service to Cedar Key the area and its residents, in absentia. The service to the community was spearheading the effort to get reliable broadband, high speed internet service to the island. The absent recipient said that the effort was certainly not a one-man accomplishment; the Cedar Key Sewer and Water commissioners, its General Manager John McPherson, and many others helped to actualize the service.
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY SHED
Speaking for the Friends of the Cedar Key Library, resident Joyce DeHaan spoke to the Friends desire to retain the shed where it now is on city property and commitment to upgrade the shed up to FEMA safety standards by a licensed contractor. The shed has stored books for the FOL Annual Book Sale for the past 18 years.
Speaking for the Friends of the Cedar Key Library, resident Joyce DeHaan spoke to the Friends desire to retain the shed where it now is on city property and commitment to upgrade the shed up to FEMA safety standards by a licensed contractor. The shed has stored books for the FOL Annual Book Sale for the past 18 years.
Should the Friends bring the shed to code and tie it down, the shed should be able to remain, explained Mayor Davis. A license agreement with the city would put in place.
SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL
The Cedar Key Arts Center is “optimistically and cautiously planning” for the Old Florida Festival of the Arts. After much input, study, and conversation, the center is preparing for a scaled down, “as safe as possible” event. All promotional materials will forward the “mask up, wash up” message.
The Cedar Key Arts Center is “optimistically and cautiously planning” for the Old Florida Festival of the Arts. After much input, study, and conversation, the center is preparing for a scaled down, “as safe as possible” event. All promotional materials will forward the “mask up, wash up” message.
Artists will be limited to 80 or 85. Instead of locating on two sides of Second Street, one line of artists in the center of the street, 12 feet apart, will occur. Circulating around thein a one-way motion, will be visitors. To minimize large gatherings, no artist breakfast nor reception will occur. To minimize closeness, no volunteers will assist; artists will set up and take down their booths themselves. The Arts Center reserves the right to cancel the event through April 1, 2021.
To further minimize interactions, in City Park, only Cedar Key School student organizations will sell food; that food will be prepackaged and handed to visitors, “grab-and-go” style. No music will occur.
TIDEWATER TOURS
Tidewater Tours owner Tom Pierson requested that, after being late in rental payments, he have the three inner Marina slips formerly rented to him, again rented to him. Commissioners agreed to that request.
Tidewater Tours owner Tom Pierson requested that, after being late in rental payments, he have the three inner Marina slips formerly rented to him, again rented to him. Commissioners agreed to that request.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD APPLICANTS
Two individuals have submitted applications for the opening on the Historic Preservation Board: Doug Lindhout who resides at 8060 A Street; Scott Sykes who resides at 1134 Whiddon Avenue.
Two individuals have submitted applications for the opening on the Historic Preservation Board: Doug Lindhout who resides at 8060 A Street; Scott Sykes who resides at 1134 Whiddon Avenue.
The appointment was postponed to the next meeting when the board, the clerk’s office, or the attorney’s office can present a complete list of Historic Board seats, occupants, and tenure within them.
PARKING TICKETS, COLLECTION
Vice-Mayor Sue Colson and Attorney Fugate presented an abbreviated history of Cedar Key’s unpaid parking violations. From 2016 to December 3, 2020, $21,470 has not been paid by violators. Colson and Fugate presented four suggested actions the commission might take to manage the situation ad perhaps recover the lost dollars.
Vice-Mayor Sue Colson and Attorney Fugate presented an abbreviated history of Cedar Key’s unpaid parking violations. From 2016 to December 3, 2020, $21,470 has not been paid by violators. Colson and Fugate presented four suggested actions the commission might take to manage the situation ad perhaps recover the lost dollars.
Commissioners unanimously approved hiring a collection agency, Kinum, Inc. 2133 Upton Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Kinum takes 40% to 50% of all collections.
WATER WORKSHOP
Vice-Mayor Sue Colson presented a University of Florida invitation to its “Water Workshop for Decision Makers” to occur virtually in February. Commissioner Jim Wortham voiced interest. Colson and Wortham intend to attend.
Vice-Mayor Sue Colson presented a University of Florida invitation to its “Water Workshop for Decision Makers” to occur virtually in February. Commissioner Jim Wortham voiced interest. Colson and Wortham intend to attend.
COUNTY COMMISSION / CITY COMMISSION MEETING
On January18, the Levy County Commission plans to meet in Bronson. Cedar Key commissioners should be there. If the Cedar Key commission meeting conflicts, the city may reschedule its January meeting.
On January18, the Levy County Commission plans to meet in Bronson. Cedar Key commissioners should be there. If the Cedar Key commission meeting conflicts, the city may reschedule its January meeting.
MINUTES APPROVED
Commissioners unanimously approved minutes from the November 17, 2020, Commission Meeting.
Commissioners unanimously approved minutes from the November 17, 2020, Commission Meeting.
MEETING ADJOURNED
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 pm.
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